Lifting Holy Hands In Praise

I, like so many others, appreciate your website and the truth that you share about God’s Word. My husband and I differ when it comes to praising the Lord. He does not believe there is a place in worship for raising your hands. Psalm 134 says to Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord. My husband says that those who do this are saying look at me…I am righteous. I feel the lifting of your hands is a way of saying, “Thank you Lord” and “I praise you.”

A

People from traditional backgrounds aren’t used to being expressive in worship and may feel uncomfortable about raising their hands in praise at first. I know I did. After doing it for a while it became more natural to me, and now I find I’m uncomfortable when I don’t do it. There’s a certain amount of freedom that comes from expressing oneself in a community of like minded worshipers, and it can make our time of worship feel more intimate and more meaningful.

But it’s a matter of personal preference so if your husband is uncomfortable then it’s better if he doesn’t do it, because the purpose of praise and worship is to be comfortable in the presence of God.

About Grace thru Faith

Jack Kelley published over 9,000 Bible Study resources here from 1999, until the Lord called him home in the fall of 2015. His teachings made the Bible clear and easy to understand, and impacted millions of lives. He is the author of all the teachings here, and all materials are available free of charge! His wife Samantha maintains this site as well as their missionary outreaches.